The Weekend

Puerto Rican Folklore

Puerto Rico is one of the most culturally rich countries in the world but its folklore and wonderful storytelling has always been a great source of enjoyment for us. So we wanted to share some of it with you!

On our third date, Alana told me the tale of La Rogativa….

Sir Francis Drake, legendary English explorer, famous for circumnavigating the globe in a single voyage & proud Vice Admiral during the famous defeat of the Spanish Armada… set sail in 1595 to conquer Puerto Rico on the orders of Elizabeth I, complete with 27 ships and 2,500 men.

According to folklore legend, upon their approach 11,000 townswomen (all apparently virgins…) led by a bishop, formed a rogativa (prayer procession) and marched throughout the streets of the city - singing hymns, carrying torches, and praying for the deliverance of the city.

Outside the walls, particularly from the sea, the British navy mistook this torch-lit religious parade for the arrival of Spanish reinforcements. When morning arrived, the British were gone from the island, and the city was saved from invasion!

You can visit the statues in the Plazuela de la Rogativa (Rogativa Plaza) in Old San Juan & pay tribute to the bishop and townswomen who saved Puerto Rico from the horrors of English as a first language.

(Out of an abundance of caution, I have not invited 11,000 virgins, or a bishop to our wedding.)

Few things are more closely associated with Puerto Rican culture than music and dancing.

Music is life in Puerto Rico, serving as a vital expression of the island's rich and diverse heritage. It acts as a cultural bridge, intertwining influences from the indigenous Taíno, African, and Spanish traditions to create an incredible musical landscape that we can’t wait to share with you. Genres like salsa, reggaeton, bomba, and plena not only get the dancefloor going into the early hours, they also preserve historical narratives, social commentary, and communal values.

Music is about community cohesion, identity affirmation, and resistance, resonating through everyday life, celebrations, and protests. It embodies the island's spirit of resilience and creativity, continuously evolving while honoring its roots.

We’re celebrating this rich tradition throughout the wedding, so here’s a bit of context and background to help get yourself prepared to ignite the dancefloor!

Few figures loom as large or shine as brightly as Héctor Lavoe, the legendary "Cantante de los Cantantes" (Singer of Singers). Born in Ponce, Puerto Rico in 1946, Lavoe's journey from humble beginnings to the pinnacle of salsa stardom is a story of transcendent talent and profound tragedy.

Lavoe's voice was a gift—rich, emotive, and unmistakably authentic. His rise to fame began when he moved to New York City in the early 1960s, a time when the salsa scene was burgeoning in the city's vibrant Latin neighborhoods. Teaming up with the influential trombonist and bandleader Willie Colón, Lavoe became the voice of a generation, his music echoing through the streets of Spanish Harlem and beyond. Together, they crafted a series of iconic albums for Fania Records that would define the genre, blending the rhythms of Puerto Rico with the urban grit of New York City.

Lavoe's life was as turbulent as his music was soulful. Behind the dazzling stage persona was a man plagued by personal demons—addiction, heartbreak, and tragedy. The deaths of his son and his mother-in-law, along with his own struggles with substance abuse, painted a portrait of a tortured artist whose pain seeped into his music, making it all the more poignant and powerful.

Despite his personal battles, Lavoe's influence on salsa music is immeasurable. He was more than a singer; he was a storyteller, a cultural icon who captured the joys and sorrows of the Puerto Rican and broader Latin American experience. Songs like "Aguanile," "El Cantante," and "Periódico de Ayer" are not just hits; they are anthems that continue to resonate with fans across generations.

Fun Fact: Jonny knows all the words to ‘El Cantante’ (despite having no idea what they mean).